ffectionately. He kissed her upon the forehead,
and remained with his arm resting upon her shoulder. She did not
return his embrace in any way.

"So you've come back," she said, speaking with a sharpness which would
have been unpleasant but for the slight foreign accent.

"As you see," he answered. "I left this afternoon, and came straight
here."

"That woman Helga has been down there. What did she want?" she
demanded.

Saton shrugged his shoulders slightly, and turning away, fetched a
chair, which he brought close to her side.

"I am afraid," he said bluntly, "that she came to see me."

The woman's eyes flashed.

"Ah!" she exclaimed. "Go on."

Saton took her hand, and held it between his. It was dry and withered,
but the nails were exquisitely manicured, and the fingers were aflame
with jewels.

"Dear Rachael," he said, "you must remember that when I was alone in
London waiting to hear from you, I naturally saw a good deal of
Helga. She was kind to me, and she was the means by which your letters
and messages reached me. I am afraid," he continued, thoughtfully,
"that I was so happy, in those days, to have found anyone who was kind
and talked decently to me, that I may have misled her. There has been
a little trouble once or twice since. I have tried to be pleasant and
friendly with her. She seems--forgive me if it sounds conceited--she
seems to want more."

"Hussy!" the old lady declared. "She shall go."

"Don't send her away," he begged, replacing her hand gently on her
lap. "I daresay it was entirely my fault."

The woman looked at him, and a cruel smile parted her lips.

"I have no doubt it was," she said. "You are like that, you know,
Bertrand. Still, one must have discipline. She asked for a day's
holiday to go into the country to see her relatives, and I find her
going to see you behind my back. It cannot be permitted."

"It will not happen again," he assured her. "I feel myself so much to
blame."

"I have no doubt," she said, "that you are entirely to blame, but that
is not the question. Unfortunately, there are other things to be
considered, or she would have been sent packing before now. Tell me,
Bertrand, what kept you down in the country these last few days?"

"I wanted a rest," he answered. "I have to read my paper to-night, you
know, and I was tired."

"You have been spending your time alone?"

"No!" he answered, with scarcely a second's hesitation. "I have been
once or twice to Be